Western cyclone., 1887-07-08
CHARGED TO THE LORD.

small shanty, large family of negroes.
For some time Buckly has thought that
the almost nightly disappearance or his
wood and chickens, together with other
small articles, was due to the influence OF
old Collins, the proprietor Of the cabin,
but the old fellow succeeded in eluding the
strictest vigilance of Buckly.
The old negro was greatly excited over
the earthquake at Charleston, and was firm
in his belief that the destruction Of the
world was at hand When it became
known to Collins that Virgins had fore
told the great earthquake and that he had
appointed day for general shaking up,
the old man took down his Bible, Of which
he was not able to read a word, and nursed
it in the hope Of gaining favor in the sight
of the Lord One evening while he was
sitting in the yard, with his Bible pressed
against his bosom, old man BuCkly came
along and said:
collins, you seem to be troubled"
Il is troubled, sab; troubled deep in de
flesh"
''Afraid of the coming earthquake. eh?"
''Yas, sab. Say, look heah. boss, is dar
any 'ditonal news about dat quake?'
Eyes. l saw a dispatch from the
North Just now IA negro generally believes
a statement coming from the NOrth) and
it gives some startling information"
''Tell me er bout it, sab; for de Lawd's
sakes tell me er bout it, an hep de ole
man eff yer ken"
"Well, the dispatch said that some time
ago Virgins predicted that a storm would
blow down a church on the following
Sunday The church belonged to the col
ored people, and he wrote them letters beg
ging them to stay away from the church,
but they laughed at him declaring that the
Lord would protect them. Well, while
they were singing and shouting, here came
the storm, blew down the house and killed
nearly all of them"
"Good Lawd!" grOaned the old negro.
eyes" Buclxly continued, ''and that is
not ALL A few days later he predicted
that railroad bridge would fall, and ad-
vised the managers of the road to keep
their trains off, but as the bridge was new,
and as it had been tried with a whole string
of trains loaded with iron ore, the man
ayers hOOted at him. but when the dav
arrived the bridge fell while negro ex
cursion train was passing over it, and
nearly every one was killed"
"Mussyful hebens" supplicated the old
man.
Now" continued the heartIess old man,
"Wiggins says that we are going to get a
shake"
"Oh, Lawd," groaned the old negro,
dropping on his knees and clasping his
hands
Yes, he says that We'll catch it md that
the only way for us to do-those of us who
live in frame houses-is to stay in doors
and pray"
'Ill do dat; God knows will F."
Virgins thinks that some of us may
escape, those who promise to lead better
lives, but that the earth will swallow up a
great many Of u.s."
May de Lawd furbid"
Il hope so, Collins, but it can not be
helped. We must watch and pray to-mor-
row night, and when you hear a rumbling
sound you may know that the great calam-
ity has come"
The next night, about twelve o'clock, old
Buckly and Ills three sons, providing
themselves with poles and jacksCrcW.
slipped over to Collins shanty.
How can we make the rumbling
noise?" Pete Bucllly asked.
I've got all that arranged" the old
man replied. cover in that corner of
the fence there is an old fan mill have
taken out the sievcs so that it will make
more of roar than a rattle Go and turn
it."
In another moment the roar began, but
above the noise old Collins voice, excited
ly praying, could be heard. Bucklv and
his other sons inserted the Jack screw
under one corner of the house, raised it
up, and then, having it on their hip" so
to speak, began to shake the house with
their poles.
The din was frightfui The entire Col
Inns family began to sing and pray. "Oh,
Mars Jesus they cried Come light
down this berry mint, fur we'Se needin'
yer powerful. Doan' stay erway, sweet
MarSter, fur ef yer does yer sarvants will
be gobbled up. Oh, Lawdr' as violent
shock threw them on their faces. 'doan'
yer see de awful work dat is bein' did
right heah?"
Old Buckly pressed his mouth against
small opening in the wall, and, in deep
tone of voice, said
Anderson Collinsr
"Oh, yes, Lawd, yaS, sab"
You have been a great thief"
! KANT deny it, Lawd, but oh, spar
For long time, Anderson Collins. you
have stolen wood and chickens from old
Bucklv."
i has, Lawd, an Tse sorry fur it,"
50 ls he, but how are you going to pay
him? You've got no money!
Oats so. Lawd"
Anderson Collinsr
Eyes, Lawd'
Tomorrow. you and your four sons
go into Bucklys cotton patch and
don't you quit him until his cotton is all
picked"
We'll do it, Lawd."
The next morning just about daylight.
OLD Collins and his four sons called on
DucAly ana asked him which field he
w y, Collins, am glad that YOU have
come to help me, especially as YOU advised
tne negroes during the campaign not IA
PICK my cotton, but that is neither here
nor there, since you have come to work
LOT me, but say, what are you going to
'tNothiDi ar+ou -